FanchesterCity

I can be very dry and witty but yes, he tries to do that to get out of trouble and then it doesn't work. The best defence a manager ever has is to hold his hands up and admit the other team were better on the day. He's looked a bit silly in recent weeks defending the indefensible. Mancini's been doing it a little too (but not to the same extent) with 'I didn't prepare them properly' - why not just say "Everton showed us why we cannot afford to switch off for ANY game" or "If you miss the chances when you have them, you'll pay for it eventually" But back on topic, Liverpool have played their 'ace' now (Dalglish) and they're buggered until Carra or Stevie G become managers. It's only a matter of time before the Mourinho name crops up (just as it will with City).

Pinstriping looks ok, but the thicker (lower half stripes) not too clever. Everton originally played in stripes I believe, but to my mind the designers just struggle to create new variations on what is basically a simple, elegant royal blue shirt. Do something with the shorts and socks, but leave the shirt unharmed (but that wouldn't sell would it?) Know what's coming next.... mark my words on this... RFID (microchip in the shirt) that will grant you security access through a turnstile without needing a swipe card... it's coming!

Fixture congestion does have an effect - but most teams have to cope with, and that's why the big spending clubs are supposed to have such deep squads... to counter it. At the start of a season when the big boys have all the top players sitting on the bench, they'll say "we need strength in depth, we have a lot of games to play" - fair comment I'd say. BUT, you can't then say afterwards "we had a lot of games to play so that why it went wrong". If you're a club that didn't expect a long cup run, or got into Europe a little fortunately (say Stoke) then it's a fair point about the congestion. If you're Liverpool, United, City etc etc then no excuses. As for Kenny... hmmm I'm not as biased as you lot!... I just think it was always a mistake to come back. Malcolm Allison did the same at City and spent a fortune to revive former glories... it actually screwed us up for 25 years thanks to all the debt (no joking). I think there's a sense of unfinished business between him and Liverpool, but there's a real chance that his memory will be tarnished by his second spell. In this league, any team can beat any team. You just have to tip your hat and say "well done" to the other team.

Everton are very fortunate in many ways - they do have an owner that clearly has a huge affinity with the club, and they have a manager than (seemingly) loves the club. On the down side, the money side of things seems to have been neglected, not least due to (arguably) a lack of prowess (compared with some other clubs) but still, it's a rare club indeed than gets BOTH of these aspects in place. United haven't got loving owners, neither have City, Liverpool, Chelsea et al. If people really DO want the best for Everton, then must it be so financially based?... I'm speaking purely hypothetically now, but what if Everton ended up in the Championship, or even lower, but it was a stable club - that MIGHT be considered 'best' for the club (not a dig at Everton, it's true for any fan saying they want the best for the club, when in reality they want the best, plus a bit of glory!) 90% of fans will always say "the best interests of the club are in staying in the Prem / Getting in Europe etc etc) - that's because they cloud 'best for the club' with 'best for the club but best for me as a fan too'. As for BU, the media will always pick up on a few morons with loud voices speaking 'on behalf of the fans' - there's fans are every club that just make you cringe when they appear on TV or radio. It's unfair to tarnish all BU supporters with that brush. It's a shame BK can't be an ambassador for the club (in a formal role) since he comes across very well (until he talks business), but have a business team behind him with at least enough money to compete on an even footing with most clubs... might not silly money, but at least enough to get one or two players a season that could stabilise Everton in the top 4 and have another crack at breaking the old top 4 again.

Only if you're touchy about it

How about an impartial (I'm a City fan) view?.... You had two chances to beat Everton and failed. That's football, you lost the tie. There's no shame in losing a game. Atmosphere at Sunderland? it varies, as it does with any club. Everton can be very hostile when it wants to be, and I'd say it's up there with the 'good atmosphere' top 5 (although it can be a bit too threatening sometimes). I can't say I'd put Sunderland in the top 5 (nor would I put City in there). For me, and there's no priority here: Newcastle Everton Liverpool United Stoke It's not week in week out, but when they want to create an atmosphere they usually do. Just have a little dignity in defeat eh? You're doing Sunderland fans a real disservice.

I'm not trying to put the knockers on Europe.... and I suppose it's where every club aspires to be playing... either CL or Europa (and Europa isn't as crap as many make out).. But... It doesn't half take it's toll on the team, and if you don't have a huge squad, it's harder still (all credit to Stoke). I can never forget the injustice (in my eyes) of Everton missing out in Europe in the 80s through absolutely NO fault of their own, and so I'd like to see them in CL for at least a couple of seasons... but it's hard to get there. Europa's probably as realistic as it gets for the time being and I can see Everton doing very well in it. I'm trying to recall the City vs Stoke situation. It was something to do with this: If City won the cup, then got into Europa League (bad for Stoke), but if City won the cup AND got in CL, then Stoke got the Europa league spot... The issue was that City played the cup final FIRST, then played Stoke in the league the next game!... meaning that it was in Stoke's interest to lose the game (and they did). Although, by that point, most folks agreed that City were going to finish 3rd anyway so it didn't make any real difference.

Cahill for his efforts, but he's looking more like an 'impact player' now than a full 90 minute guy.

Best of luck tonight. Really looking forward to it (as a neutral). I slightly fancy Liverpool, but if Everton can get that first goal, I think it's anybody's game. Would be a perfect way to celebrate 10 years of Mr Moyes, and a reminder to Liverpool that (like many others), there's a long way to go before they are a great team. Game on!!

I was making the point that Suarez was NOT found guilty of racism. Regardless of what I (or others) think, the judgment made a point of this. This is a simple fact. People say things to wind folks up... "you fat ba'stard", "you old fart", "you manc / scouse tw*t" etc. It doesn't really make you sizeist, ageist or against certain cities". That was the point made in the judgment. It's important what we slag him off with facts. When someone says he was found guilty of racism, this is WRONG. He wasn't. Regarding the handshake... in my opinion, there's a case for either side. You can say Suarez refused it, and you can make a case for Evra making it difficult for him too. It doesn't matter who the clubs are, I'm just trying to look at it objectively. I've seen enough of Suarez to dislike his attitude, but it doesn't mean I can't see both sides on the handshake. Both clubs have managed it badly, and it not getting any better. When you're trying to calm down a situation, you don't parade around a pitch revving up the fans - and if you do it from over enthusiasm, then you get pulled away rapidly, not left on the pitch to carry on doing it!

1) Suarez was not proved as a racist. The report subsequent to his ban judged him to have made racist remarks - it's not 'quite' the same thing. In fact, the report makes point about Suarez not being a racist. Just pointing out a technicality there. 2) I've watched the handshake fiasco a few times now, and I can see a case for both players being a bit unsure about what the other would do. Evra doesn't help with his lowered hand, making it hard for Suarez to be sure (and vice versa, since Suarez rapidly 'glides' his hand past Evra). 3) Evra's subsequent attempt to pull Suarez' hand back makes it look like he wanted to shake hands all along. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. We'll never know. 4) Evra's actions at the end of the game might have been forgiven for 20 seconds, but not for a full minute or so, parading around the stands. Not helpful. I have no idea why both clubs didn't mediate between the two and have confidence that they would (or would not) shake hands and avoid the uncertainty), or just agree to avoid the handshake in the first place. I'm assuming the clubs didn't do this, but can't be sure. It's a real shame that two grown men act like schoolboys, and the managers can't help themselves from making provocative comments (esp Ferguson who prior to the match had to have a 'dig' at Liverpool tending to rev things up). Both clubs COULD celebrate their great histories and put on a real show TOGETHER. They fail to do it time and time again. A very sad state of affairs I'd say - for both clubs.

Another very good victory from Everton yesterday and by two goals! Things are looking a lot more positive within the space of a 3-4 games. It looks like the gap between Everton and Euro contenders is probably a bridge too far, but it's not impossible. It would be too easy to say Chelsea are a bit of a mess at the moment. By their usual standards they're below par, but their league position doesn't lie - they are still a top team and few teams can expect to take 3 points off them. Nice one Everton!

The brackets are used to apply missing (but deemed important) context. If an interviewer asks "what next for City?" and I say "We move on", then they could quote "We [City] move on". You see it most when people accidentally miss out words when talking, it adds the words back in for clarity.

He actually looked a bit messed up last night, very dejected for sure. I don't think he knew what to say to be honest. I don't think for a moment he / they were unprepared. It was a strange thing to say. I don't see why he couldn't just say "sometimes a team raises their game and they put in a great performance. We weren't bad, they were good and we didn't have enough to assert our authority. We need to understand that everybody wants to beat us now and we have to be more determined to stop them" Some have suggested he was trying to take pressure off players, but it wasn't as if City were lousy.

What folks forget is, the internet attracts nutters. There's opposing fans posing as home fans and vice versa, there's deluded dipsticks and there are out and out trailer park trash at every club. It's shocking. The sooner they disable this internet and go back to having to write letters the better. But... I do wonder how the hell United get ALL SIX games at home after European nights. Slightly against the odd there I think!

There's some morons about. I thought City played reasonably well last night. It would be unfair to say City had a lousy game, they didn't. Everton just stuck to their task, pure and simple. City showed what's been happening for the last 6 weeks... they find it difficult to break down teams with a lot of men behind the ball. On the break, City can be lethal, but they didn't have enough breaks last night, and they weren't lethal. If anything, I'd say City are trying too hard actually. Over-playing things. Mindful of the pressure etc. Everton had nothing to lose really, few expected them to win (except me! and I said the same in early Jan when asked about new year predictions!). Everton can give ANY team a run for their money when they play well (sadly they don't play well often enough, but last night they did!). There's no shame in losing to Everton at Goodison. We've seen all the top teams slip up, and City aren't immune to it. I don't believe City should be too worried, but I do think Everton can take a lot of inspiration from the win and possibly turn a corner.... but it's just Everton's style to lose to Wolves or something. That's the way this league is. Now, this is NOT a negative comment on Everton, even if it may seem so at a cursory glance: I don't think Everton played 'amazingly'. I think they played as a good team should, and it's possibly a mark of how poorly they've been playing that made last night look so great. Don't get me wrong, I am not demeaning their achievement, I'm saying this is what Everton could do far more often. It wasn't a 'miracle' performance. It was a solid, workmanlike performance from a very decent team against a more creative team who simply couldn't break Everton down. Sometimes creativity wins games, sometimes sheer hard work wins games. Sheer hard work beat creativity last night and I don't think any fan ever asks for more than that. As for City fans conspiracy theories - hmmm, I think you can find a bunch of morons representing any fan base at any club. Sometimes, there are just teams you don't like playing, and that's that. United don't like playing Liverpool. City don't like playing Everton. United win leagues 'cos they're a fine team. Anybody who actually knows anything about football accepts last night for what it was... two good teams, a good match and one team scored one more goal than the other. This is football as Mr Mancini would say.... this is football.

Great performance from Everton there. Did everything they needed to do, and did it well. No iffy decisions, no shocking tackles... just a good game! Fair result I'd say. City's pretty football is no good unless the ball's in the back of the net. Well played Everton!

My God, I genuinely thought we City fans were pessimists, but you lot put us to shame! Surely, SURELY you can at least sense a possible upset? There's no way it's a foregone conclusion!

I have Everton down to win this one. I'm going for Everton 2 : 1 City City will lose a few more games this season, and Everton are precisely the sort of team that can step up a gear when they face a better team. I have a very sneaky feeling that it'll just be one of those nights for City who have gone off the boil slightly of late. Although City didn't lose at Liverpool (but the media keep referring to it as an amazing Liverpool win), it's added to the disappointment at City and potentially increased the pressure on Mancini. Vincent Kompany's return will be much welcomed, but it's the game back after a 3 week absence and he might take a game or two to settle back in. Finally, City have felt a little hard done to of late with refereeing decisions, so I expect City to be slightly nervous in 50/50 tackles - something Everton could very well exploit. City will be mindful of not wanting another red card for any key players. It'll be a cold winter's night at Goodison, and City's penchant for footballers from warmer climates will come at a cost. Silva, Nasi, Aguero et al blossom in the sun, and wither in the chilling coolth.

Whatapp is a subscription service. Free for a year, then you pay. It's a good service, but it ain't free. IMO is a better alternative (and you can use PC to chat with too, so you're not forced to use your phone). You could also just use IRC and set up a room on some server (but it might be a bit geeky for your average forum user)

I don't agree with folks turning against the team at the first opportunity, but I would say this... Most fans do recognise the contribution that certain players and managers make within a club, but they also look to the future. A player who was once a great may no longer be so, and thus should be open to criticism for their current level of performance. Likewise, poor performers in the past can finally come good (and should be given praise for improvement). Isn't it a fine balance between 'giving it time / showing respect for what's been achieved in the past' and 'the current reality'? Nobody should oust a manager or players too hastily, but equally, it's all too easy to keep holding on to past glory / success and refusing to see reality. I think Moyes' isa cracking manager and his track record speaks for itself. I also think many fans expect too much of him. He's done fabulously well fairly good players (7/10 type players). Now he's being asked to work with 5/10 players due to the lack of funds. He simply can't be expected to reach the same levels as before (until money arrives). As for some of the players? well... the standard of the squad isn't what it was, a few leading lights have had to go, and some of the trusty stalwarts are older now. There are glimmers of hope with some younger players, and of course, you're not devoid of decent players (Baines, Fellaini et al) but generally speaking the whole Everton 'environment' is worsening each year. It MIGHT be time for a change... but it's so hard to know. It's a gamble, and not one I'd want to take (I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better manager, but accept you might get a nice 6 month honeymoon). All in all, the problems seem to be behind the scenes, and ultimately that's showing on the pitch. The team performances in my view are a 'symptom'. The cause is what needs to be addressed. In this league, teams are only a couple of great players away from top 6, or a couple of lousy signings away from the relegation zone. Arsenal are as as close to the leaders as they are to Wolves!. Sadly, whilst I think Moyes IS still the right man, I feel that if/when a new owner is found, Moyes will be living on borrowed time. Tragic really.

1) Rush 1983 Signals tour 2) Queen 1984 (ish) - Milton Keynes Bowl 3) Kiss with the Sydney Orchestra, Australia 4) U2 - Red Rocks, 1981(ish) 5) Richard Thompson - any time!

Blackburn work quite hard. Credit were it's due. But Everton need to be careful. Do NOT get sucked down the bottom, it's not a fun place, esp when a few of the lower teams are starting to up their game (and Everton seemingly on the slide). Unlucky with the chance at the very end of the game, but would probably have been harsh on Blackburn to have lost. I'd like to be able to offer a bit of encouragement, but it's not easy to at the moment. Not even a hope of bringing in a Robbie Keane type player :-(

It's very hard to do much with a stadium design at a sensible cost. Of course, with a bit more money spent you can have something worth talking about like the Allianz arena, which looks like a tire and changes from red to blue depending on who's playing (shared ground) Trouble is, most fans want a stadium that is 'better' than their rivals, in capacity and looks. All a club really needs is sensible ground that's easy to maintain, expandable (or shrinkable if needs be) and is safe (foremost) and comfortable... and if possible one that helps pitch stay in good nick too. I can't see any of the modern stadiums being around in 50 years, let alone 100, and truth be known.... I think we'll all look back in 20-30 years and think "WHAT were we thinking not sharing stadiums?"

Well done! Wasn't sure how many would get it.